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Hear both words in 10 voices
Each row is one speaker saying both words. Play one, then the other, and switch to slow when the difference hides.
- American woman, younger
- American woman, older
- American man, younger
- American man, older
- British woman, younger
- British woman, older
- British man, younger
- British man, older
- Australian woman
- Australian man
What's different
The rest of the two words is identical: the n before k is said as ng, and both end in the same weak "-kul". So the stressed first vowel carries the whole difference: the bright æ of cat in ankle, the short "uh" of cup in uncle.
That ng pulls æ upward in many American voices, so ankle can begin almost like "eyn", with a clear e-like color. British voices keep æ open and plain, so with them, listen for which word sounds brighter.
Studies: Lambacher et al. 2002 · Lambacher et al. 2005 · Nishi & Kewley-Port 2007
æ (hat) is wide and bright. ʌ (hut) is short and relaxed.
More word pairs with these sounds
Hearing hat and hut apart: all 18 pairs →This collection is free in the app
In the TellApart app, all 18 pairs in this collection are free to practice, with no purchase.
Start hearing the difference.
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